§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what cardiac and thoracic treatment is available under the National Health Service to Italian citizens referred for treatment in Great Britain; and whether identical benefit is available to British subjects in Italy.
§ Sir George YoungUnder the EEC regulations, treatment available to persons ordinarily resident in this country is available on the same terms to a worker or a pensioner belonging to another EEC country who has been referred for treatment and whose coming for that purpose has been authorised by his competent institution. A corresponding obligation rests on the Italian authority in respect of British workers or pensioners referred to Italy with the approval of the competent institution—DHSS. A patient referred to the United Kingdom under these arrangements has to give advance notice and must take his place on any waiting list in the same way as a United Kingdom resident.